Work Text:
INT. ACCESS ARK - TIME UNKNOWN
SUSIE walks down a long, decorated hallway, guided by an ASSISTANT MECH. Visibly nervous, she caresses the hairpin attached inconspicuously to her sleeve. Eventually, the ASSISTANT MECH stops her and gestures towards a portal in the wall, with HALTMANN’s office visible on the other side.
ASSISTANT MECH
Just through here, miss.
Without hesitation, she steps through with her back arched and her hands clasped tightly in front of her. As the entrance closes behind her, she bows deeply in HALTMANN’s direction.
SUSIE
Good morning, President Haltmann. It is a pleasure to be in your presence.
HALTMANN
(curtly)
Come, sit. I am a busy man.
HALTMANN gestures towards the chair placed to face his desk. Stiffening slightly, SUSIE makes haste towards the chair and seats herself.
HALTMANN (CONT’D)
So you are the Ms. Familia that applied for a position within my company, are you?
SUSIE
Susie, sir.
HALTMANN
Beg pardon?
SUSIE
I prefer being addressed that way. No formalities necessary. Provided I’m not speaking out of turn, of course.
HALTMANN
Yes, well, “Susie”, your name is only one of the glaring concerns we have regarding your submission. I expect you to answer for these issues promptly and honestly.
SUSIE
(nodding, unperturbed)
Of course, sir. I’ll tell you anything you wish to know.
HALTMANN
In that case, would you care to explain why the name “Beatrice Susie Familia” doesn’t come up in any official records? Do you have any idea how difficult it was to track you down just to arrange this meeting?
SUSIE
I’m terribly sorry, sir. I promise I didn’t mean to cause you any trouble. Please be assured that I’m well into the process of securing proper documentation.
HALTMANN
That isn’t what I asked. You are to tell me why you lack documentation in the first place.
HALTMANN’s eyes narrow intimidatingly as he talks, and SUSIE’s breath catches in fear for a moment. She rubs her hairpin with her thumb and takes a deep breath to soothe herself before answering.
SUSIE
(melancholic)
Truthfully… this whole system is new to me. Don’t get me wrong, I’m a quick learner! But on the planet where I grew up, we didn’t have anything so sophisticated. You were just expected to make your own way in life.
HALTMANN
Is that so? Where might this planet be?
SUSIE
FAR away from here, sir. It’s so small, I doubt even someone of your status knows of it. There was absolutely no room for intellectual advancement. Hence why I sought out opportunities elsewhere.
HALTMANN
(drily)
Then, I assume this to also be the reason behind the resume you submitted? Or, more aptly, the lack thereof?
SUSIE
Yes. Regrettably. There’s no sense of corporate structure where I’m from. The only thing we could hope to concern ourselves with was making it through another day.
HALTMANN
Elaborate.
SUSIE
It was a hostile environment. The geography, the lifeforms, everything. The weak were hunted by the strong. If it wasn’t for my aptitude with technology, I wouldn’t have survived.
HALTMANN
My, how… uncivilized…
SUSIE
(shrugging)
That’s putting it politely. But it was good motivation to become the very best at what I do. So it got me here today.
HALTMANN
Yes, let’s discuss that further. I’d like to review your competence exam with you.
SUSIE
You would? What did I get wrong?
HALTMANN fishes a file folder from his desk and opens it in front of SUSIE. It contains her entrance exam, free of any corrections.
HALTMANN
That’s precisely my concern. You got nothing wrong. You received a perfect score.
SUSIE
(giddily)
I did?! I mean– of course I did!
HALTMANN
This is the first perfect exam in the company’s entire history. Which is extremely lengthy. But your answers suggest you’re already intimately aware of that. Despite, by your own admission, only recently integrating into civilization.
SUSIE
Naturally, sir. Even primitive planets such as mine have heard of your conquest. Your vision is so innovative that it attracts eyes from all corners.
HALTMANN
And this is sufficient for you to know everything the exam had to ask you?
SUSIE
Well, I did significant research before applying, of course. If I’m going to be a star employee, I must know exactly what the company stands for.
HALTMANN
Even assuming this is the case, how do you expect me to believe that someone with no experience to speak of could have such an advanced understanding of robotics?
SUSIE
Are you suggesting that you’d like to see examples of my expertise?
HALTMANN
Well, that would certainly be beneficial-
SUSIE
(gleefully)
I was HOPING you’d say that, sir!
As if on cue, SUSIE pulls neatly-organized files from inside her jacket and lays them out on top of her exam. They are revealed to be complicated engineering schematics. Bewildered, HALTMANN sits up in his chair as he looks over them with amazement.
HALTMANN
(under his breath)
These blueprints… this is a fascinating approach to interdimensional travel.
SUSIE
Why, thank you! I came up with it myself!
HALTMANN
You did all this? With no background?
SUSIE
It did take a bit of… testing to perfect… but it was nothing I couldn’t handle.
HALTMANN
Then I’m sure you would have no issues walking me through your process.
SUSIE
I would be honoured!
SUSIE proceeds to launch into passionate, long-winded explanations that are represented through symbols and diagrams. HALTMANN listens and nods along with genuine interest. The longer she talks, the more comfortable she becomes, dropping her professional demeanour and gesturing grandly as she speaks.
SUSIE (CONT’D)
–but once I ran the tests with THIS kind of metal, which we never had access to before, I got the signal readings I needed! Of course, there’s substantial room for improvement with further tests and a more controlled environment. But even in this state, it fits perfectly into what we had been hypothesizing!
HALTMANN
I must admit, I’m impressed by your findings. I just have one question.
SUSIE
Ask away!
HALTMANN
If you made this yourself, then who is “we”?
SUSIE’s eyes go wide and cold as she realizes her careless mistake.
SUSIE
I-I’m SO sorry, sir. It was a misunderstanding, that’s all. I was referring to an old mentor and I didn’t clarify-
HALTMANN
So you have received formal training?
SUSIE
Well, it isn’t- it was my father, so I’m not sure if “formal” is the right-
HALTMANN
Your father? Were you two close?
SUSIE remains silent, glancing up at HALTMANN with hesitation. With an uncharacteristic warmth in his eyes, he gestures for her to keep speaking, so she shrinks into herself before doing so.
SUSIE
We were. I owe all my success to him. He always told me that we would see everything there is to see together. So everything I do is to fulfil that dream.
HALTMANN
I’m sorry for your loss.
SUSIE
He isn’t dead. We were just separated, and… I haven’t been able to get through to him since.
HALTMANN
(turning away to face the window)
I offer my condolences regardless. I’m certain wherever he is, he would be overjoyed to see how you’re thriving.
SUSIE
(quietly)
I can only hope so.
HALTMANN
I’m sure of it. I know how beautiful relationships like those can be. I had a daughter myself, once.
SUSIE
Did you, sir?
HALTMANN
She was my pride and joy. But she was taken from me too soon. Everything I do is with the hope that I can one day tell her again how much I adore her.
SUSIE
(biting back tears)
I promise you, that’s all she’s ever wanted. And I truly hope you’ll figure out where she is.
HALTMANN
I wish the same for you and your father.
There are beats of awkward silence as both stare longingly into the distance. Finally, HALTMANN turns back around.
HALTMANN
(pensively)
You do understand, Susie, that your situation would be frankly unbelievable in most circumstances?
SUSIE
I know. And yet I’ve put my whole life’s work in front of you. You could take it for yourself and send me on my way, I’m aware of that. But I was willing to take that risk. Because I know we have so much to offer each other.
HALTMANN only looks down with a hand on his chin. SUSIE’s desperation becomes more apparent in her expression.
SUSIE (CONT’D)
Anything else you want me to do to prove myself, I will. That’s how much this means to me. Talent like yours is unrivalled throughout the whole universe. There’s no one else I would rather–
HALTMANN
I have much to think about. I’m going to ask you to wait outside. Thank you for your time, Susie.
Before SUSIE can muster up a rebuttal, the doors to the office open, and two ASSISTANT MECHs enter. After further nonverbal prompting from HALTMANN, SUSIE tensely allows herself to be escorted into the hallway, not even bothering to retrieve her papers. The moment the ASSISTANT MECHs leave her line of sight, she breaks down into heavy sobs, unlatching her hairclip from her sleeve and clutching it tightly in her fist. She continues to cry until she hears the ASSISTANT MECHs returning, at which point she hastily wipes her eyes and reassumes her poise.
ASSISTANT MECH
Ms. Familia?
SUSIE
(despondent)
Please just call me Susie.
ASSISTANT MECH
Understood, Ms. Susie. Please, come with us. Sir Haltmann has some documents he would like for you to review and sign.
SUSIE
(voice breaking)
Y-you mean…?
ASSISTANT MECH
As of today, you are an official employee of the Haltmann Works Company.
Too stunned to speak, SUSIE can only look back down at her hairpin. She lets out one last exhale as the ASSISTANT MECHs guide her to her feet. She finally allows herself to clip it to her bangs as she is led down the hall.
ASSISTANT MECH (CONT’D)
Congratulations.